Speeding offences dropping
Police have recorded a significant drop in the number of South Canterbury motorists caught speeding.
The number of speeding infringements issued has dropped by more than half in some parts of the region, new figures released under the Official Information Act show.
A total of 12,399 speeding offences were recorded in South Canterbury in the 2015/16 financial year.
That was a 36 per cent decrease on the 2014/15 year, when 19,535 offences were recorded.
The region’s top cop has put that down to a combination of better driving behaviour and police resourcing.
St Andrews recorded the biggest decrease, dropping by 53 per cent from 1336 to 618. Timaru recorded a 40 per cent reduction, from 7680 to 4605.
Geraldine, Tekapo, Temuka, and Waimate also notched up significant decreases.
Fairlie registered the biggest increase in offences, rising by 19 per cent from 976 to 1170, while Pleasant Point rose from 614 to 620.
Mid-South Canterbury Area Commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said the figures were not surprising.
‘‘The average speed on the road has dropped,’’ he said.
However, there had also been a drop in police staff in the region while vacancies were being filled, which had a ‘‘flow on effect’’, he said.
Despite the drops, Gaskin said there were still too many people speeding.
The news follows the launch of a new police operation targeting distracted drivers.
Operation Habit will see police focussing on seatbelt safety and drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel.
Nationally, between January and March 2016, 41 per cent of vehicle occupants killed in road crashes were not wearing their seat belts.
Canterbury road policing manager Inspector Al Stewart said that translated to 28 people whose deaths may have otherwise been prevented.
‘‘In Canterbury, too many of our fatal crashes are linked to drivers or passengers not wearing their seatbelts,’’ he said.
‘‘Despite studies showing that wearing your seatbelt reduces your chance of death or serious injury in a crash by at least 40%, far too many local drivers are putting themselves and their families at risk by not using them.’’
The operation launched on Monday, and in Oamaru its impact was already being felt. In the space of 30 minutes on Wednesday, Constable Ashley Pickworth caught one person not wearing their seatbelt and another motorist driving at 112km in a 100km zone.
He urged people to call the police *555 line if they noticed bad driving behaviour. Operation Habit is also targeting people using their cellphones while behind the wheel.
Stewart said any driver caught using a hand held mobile phone while driving faced an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.
‘‘You are increasing your risk of being involved in a crash if you are talking on your mobile phone, even more so if you are crazy enough to be texting,’’ he said.
‘‘You are piloting a ton and a half of metal along the road at anywhere between 50 and 100 kilometres an hour.’’
Answering a call or text could put motorists, their passengers, and other road users at risk, he said.
‘‘No phone call or text is that important.
‘‘We don’t want to see any more broken Canterbury families and communities affected by the massive trauma of a fatal crash.’’